Egypt's Salafis back moderate for president

CAIRO – A major Egyptian ultraconservative Salafi group says they will back a moderate Islamist candidate for president, in a setback for the country's powerful Muslim Brotherhood.

The leader of the Al-Nour party, Emad Abdel-Ghafour, said Saturday that the decision to back Abdel-Moneim Abolfotoh was designed to allay fears among Egyptians over the growing prowess of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Abolfotoh is a moderate Islamist who is also popular among some liberals.